His exhibition activity extended beyond national borders. Tadini held solo exhibitions abroad, including in Paris, Stockholm, Brussels, London, Antwerp, the United States, and South America. These took place in both private galleries and public spaces and museums. He also participated in numerous group exhibitions. His talent was recognized with invitations to the Venice Biennale in both 1978 and 1982. Among his important exhibitions is the large one at the Rotonda della Besana in Milan in 1986, where he exhibited a series of canvases that anticipated the cycles dedicated to the Profughi (Refugees) and Città italiane (Italian Cities). The latter was later presented in Aosta in 1988. In 1990, he exhibited seven large triptychs at Studio Marconi. Other significant exhibitions include Oltremare in Paris in 1992 at the Galerie du Centre, and a new solo exhibition with new works inaugurated at Studio Marconi in Milan in 1993. In 1995, eight large triptychs from Il ballo dei filosofi (The Philosophers’ Dance) cycle were exhibited in Bologna at the Villa delle Rose. This work was later presented at the Giò Marconi gallery in 1996. Between autumn 1995 and summer 1996, a large travelling anthology exhibition was set up in several German museums, including Stralsund, Bochum, and Darmstadt, accompanied by a monograph edited by Arturo Carlo Quintavalle.
In addition to painting, Tadini continued his literary production. After his debut novel L’armi, l’amore in 1963, he published L’opera (1982), La lunga notte (1983), the book of poetry L’insieme delle cose (1992), and the novel La tempesta (1993), from which a theatrical version was derived. He also authored essays such as L’occhio della pittura (1995) and La distanza (1998), as well as La Deposizione (1997). Additional information about his books is available.
During his career, Tadini also held other significant roles. He became a commentator for the newspaper Corriere della Sera and, from 1997 to 2000, served as president of the Accademia di Brera. He continued to exhibit his works, with exhibitions in 1997 at the Galerie Karin Fesel in Düsseldorf, the Galerie Georges Fall in Paris, and the Museo di Castelvecchio in Verona. Among his last painted cycles are the Nature morte (Still Lifes) and Fiabe (Fairy Tales), which were presented in Frankfurt at Die Galerie in 1999. In 2001, the city of Milan paid tribute to his artistic journey with a major anthology exhibition at Palazzo Reale, titled Emilio Tadini. Opere 1959/2000. In the same year, in April, he also exhibited watercolors in a show at the Galleria Giò Marconi in Milan.
Emilio Tadini passed away in 2002.